Asian stock markets see big gains amid growing expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index extended its upswing and, for the first time, crossed the 43,000 mark on August 13, while the broader Topix index also set a fresh all-time high. The gains in Japan’s equity benchmarks followed upbeat cues from Wall Street overnight, helping the indices post gains for the sixth consecutive session.